Things That Make You Go Hmm...

I find it funny how some Americans and I'm sure people from other countries too sometimes live in a bubble.

What I mean is, not all people realize that there is more to the world than the US Mainland. During flight attendant training we had to learn to be sensitive to other cultures. I always thought I was pretty sensitive to the Japanese and my eye contact to be polite, but I didn't realize there were so many things I could do that could be interpreted as rude!

Did you know:
In the USA & the UK the thumbs up sign means OK, good job, everything is great?
Well, in Greece, Australia, Nigeria and some other countries it means "Up Yours!"

In the US the OK sign with your hands means everything is cool, it's OK.
In Nigeria, you are calling someone an A hole. Ooops! I won't do that one on the plane.

In Italy, to show something is sweet they put their pointer finger in their cheek and and turn. When I first saw that one I was like "Gelato gives you dimples?"

In Saudi Arabia do not show the sole of your shoe or the bottom of your foot for it is very offensive.

In the US, men make cat calls by whistling. In Mexico you'll hear psst psst.

While working a flight to India, don't touch the passenger's left hand. The left hand is used to wipe and the right hand is used for food. Of course not all Indian people don't use toilet paper, but you never know so...

There were a bunch of Flight Attendants sitting around the back galley of the plane to Mumbai, and someone says, "It smells like feces back here". She kept saying it and everyone agreed. She looked at her uniform, and it turned out the little old lady she helped out of the lavatory held onto her sweater with her left hand leaving behind feces! Yeah, so don't take any chances.

In Japan, Hawaii (and in my house too) do not walk on the carpet with your shoes, it is considered very rude! Not to mention how dirty it is. You walk in public restrooms, the street, and who knows where else and then you walk on the carpet with those shoes ewwww.

I'm sure there are many more, but that's all I can think of for now.

He just wanted to do hood rat stuff with his friend.

"I picked up my friend, and he was smokin' wit cigarettes."

His parents must be proud...

This blog has no real focus anymore, it's just kind of random, but there probably aren't any readers anyway so I will just continue to post my random things...

This is a video of Pugsly, he is so funny. I ask him to blow me a kiss, then he grunts "Mom" then he tries to kiss. If you listen closely, you can hear him say Mom, then you will see him so excited attempting to blow kisses.

My favorite part is when he turns his head and says "no!"

I taught him to do it that way because I don't like to be licked by a dog no matter how cute he is.

I don't understand that whole kids sleeping over at friend's houses garbage. I never allow my child to sleep anywhere but at home, unless it is a family member and that is even rare. I guess if there was a birthday party, I would would maybe let her stay overnight, but I don't know.

Why can't kids sleep in their own bed and see their friends the next day? I mean think about it, do you really know the parents of the other children? People may seem one way, but be another. If that other parent is allowing your child to drink would your child tell you? I was watching a commercial yesterday that says one in six boys is molested. That's huge!

Don't even get me started about the parents that allow boys to stay at girls houses, or girls stay at the boys houses! That is so sickening. Why do some parents want their kids doing adult things? They are kids, let them enjoy their innocence. I don't care what anyone says, I want to know where my child is at all times.

Hopefully parents carefully screen the daycare center where they send their kids, and there are multiple people present so it is more likely they would be aware of any wrong doing. But what happens when your child stays at a friend's house behind closed doors? Are you sure you know? What harm can be done by having your child sleep in their own bed at night? None. What harm can be done by allowing your child to sleep at a friend's house? Who knows? I always say better safe than sorry.

I haven't been blogging on my personal blogs for awhile. It's kind of a private time in my life. I'm in the last phase of my pregnancy, mostly on bed rest, and trying to dictate to my husband Fredi what needs to be done to be ready for baby.

He is such a good sport, he wants things as perfect as I do but on Sunday I got carried away. Sunday was the six year anniversary of our first date. We were going to go out on a date to celebrate, but I am not allowed to go up and down stairs so we figured with all the work that needs to be done at home, we should do that instead. We meaning Fredi. I am only allowed to watch. Some friends of ours invited us out to dinner this past weekend, but we turned that down too because this baby will be here soon! So much to do, so little time to do it in especially when only one person can do all the work.

I had the bright idea that I wanted to turn the attic into my walk in closet, we would rearrange our room to accomodate the baby, and clean and organize everything perfectly. I have always wanted a closet like Kimora Lee Simmons' closet.

Fredi moved all the furniture, by himself up the stairs and around the room, he cleaned the floors until they sparkled. My cedar closet was difficult for Fredi to get up the attic stairs to my new walk in closet. I suggested Fredi take off the legs to the closet. What a great idea, that should work. It didn't. Next, I suggested he take the door off the hinges, happily Fredi obliged. Well, the closet got all scratched up and didn't fit through the doorway. I was so disapointed.

We had most of our things all over our previously perfectly cleaned and organized master bathroom, strewn everywhere. Our bedroom furniture was all rearannged, and the room seemed smaller than it did before we took out two major pieces of furniture! As we stood in the bathroom and took stock of our actions furniture, clothes, closet legs on the floor, a door lying on it's side, so much clutter that we couldn't barely walk. I looked around and said, "Well, that was a total waste of our limited time. Good thing we didn't go out to dinner. Happy Anniversary Baby!"

With that, we both started laughing, Fredi fell on the floor because his stomach started to cramp from all the laughter. I laughed so hard that contractions started. We knew it was too soon for me to go into labor, and the more I laughed the baby was dropping down lower and lower, I was contracting harder and harder. We couldn't stop, we were both crying laughing, and finally Fredi manages to stand up and starts helping me with my breathing, we are still laughing and realize the only way this would stop was if we separated. I left the room and it took an hour to settle down and not laugh anymore. We always make each other laugh, but this was ridiculous! As I tried to settle down, Fredi put the room back in the original configureation, he put the door back on the hinges, and fluffed up my pillows to put me back to bed. The contractions stopped thankfully. We agreed that hey, at least there wasn't a speck of dust in sight, not even under the bed or behind the dressers. We also agreed not to talk about it to each other again until after the baby is born, because it's still too funny.

Now I know why couples say, "We're pregnant". That is so true. Fredi has honestly worked harder than I have at being pregnant. He has shouldered all the responsibility, and taken perfect care of me without one single complaint. I bet the baby looks exactly like him, and that would be well deserved for all of his hard work. Plus Fredi is really hot, and that would be great for baby.

I don't mean to laugh, but I can't help it! "Nah, Nah, My glasses are famous." They are now.

When I thought of feral children in the past, I just thought of my sisters kids. No, I'm joking!  I love my nieces so much, even though they can be a bit wild.

I thought The Jungle Book was just a myth. Now I realize, the story could have some truth to it after reading an article in The Daily Mail about a wolf boy. He escaped from the hospital in Russia after attacking some of the staff. As you can see from the picture, his toenails grew into claws and they also said his teeth were very sharp. They believe he was raised by a pack of wolves. He did not understand when they tried to speak to him. They said he "seemed about ten, but tests showed he could be much older".

I started digging around for more information on feral children and came across THIS site. The stories are sad, sickening, and incredibly thought provoking. Children raised by dogs, wolves, monkeys, even goats. Check it out at FeralChildren.com if you dare.

My friend just e-mailed me a great event. She's out in LA and I am 3000 miles away, and we have the same event here!

If you are looking for a safe, fun, family oriented community event check out firstnight.com The event is hosted in different cities across the country.

The one in my town has fireworks, bands, clowns, a free trolley, and performances of all kinds.

How could I have not known about this?

Happy New Year Everyone!

I love goals. I must admit I have been a bit slack in my goal setting this year. New Years Resolutions are terrific, because it is a time to start fresh. To set new goals.

Each New Year's Eve we look forward to a new year. A new year of possibilities. I would like to think I evolve each year, and become a better person. I would like to think I become more financially stable, more educated and happier.

Here are my Top Ten Blogging New Years Resolutions for 2008

1. To post more frequently. (Who doesn't have that resolution?)
2. To explore other blogging platforms.
3. To connect more to other bloggers. (Holla!)
4. To find a blog design that I like.
5. To start a vegan blog.
6. To spend time each day learning more about blogging.
7. To post more pictures to my blogs.
8. To link more.
9. To use more tags and keywords without being obnoxious.
10. Improve my writing and content.

Maybe your goals and resolutions have nothing to do with blogging. I have personal goals as well. But whatever your passion, be sure and set some goals for your next year.

Stephanie at greensahm.com has some excellent ideas for 16 Simple, Green New Year's Resolutions.

I hope everyone has a happy, healthy, green, and prosperous New Year!

Deanna

Since I am pregnant I have all these crazy dreams. Last night I had the second dream that my Pug was sitting on the ocean floor. He can't swim and would sink like a brick. I rescued him, and he was fine.

I love the ocean so much I always dream about it, even when I am not pregnant. I am more comfortable in the water than I am on the land. In the water, swimming is like flying and you are weightless.

Last night after my dream, I couldn't fall back to sleep and I got to thinking about something that made me laugh. I thought I would share.

When I am in the water, I am not afraid as long as I am busy doing something. A lot of the time I like to just float around in the waves. While I am floating my mind wanders to sharks. I have a way around that so I never worry about a shark bite.

I always position myself in the water near some flailing swimmers. You know the ones, the ones that are splashing around and are not the most graceful swimmers. I perfect my strokes to swim like a graceful mermaid while the swimmers around me look like a dying fish! In all those Jaws movies the shark always attacked the unsuspecting flailing swimmers. I don't know that my theory would even work, but it does give me a little peace of mind.

I love sharks, and shark attacks are extremely rare but I still don't want to swim with them.

IMAGE

Well,Christmas was bittersweet. It started out to be the best Christmas ever. The whole family home and together.

I decided to blog my Christmas so I would always remember it. The good and the bad preserved on my blog forever.

Fredi and I decided we wouldn't be doing presents this year for each other because I am not working. I am off until June 2009, I am due to have our baby June 3, and then I will be taking a year to stay home with the baby after that.

Fredi went and tricked me and bought me a gorgeous Sony SLR camera. Exactly what I was wanting but better. He is the best husband ever! I felt bad I didn't have a gift for him though.

Then, we were getting ready to leave for my Aunties house for Christmas dinner and I accidently flushed my diamond "D" pendant down the toilet! It was one of the first gifts Fredi ever bought me. I heard a "ting" and thought "What on Earth was that?" Then as I pushed down the handle, I saw it in the bottom of the toilet and just like that it was gone. Fredi tried to dig around for it with a hanger but it was gone. I am so sad about it. It was all diamonds, and I was always afraid to wear it for fear of losing it. I only wore it on special occasions.

We got to my Aunties house an hour late, and then played Rock Band for hours. That game is so much fun. Me and my two cousins formed a band and went on tour. I played guitar, and sometimes did vocals. I am awful on the drums. Fredi jumped in sometimes and played drums. Haley just laughed at us and wouldn't play. We rocked it out for hours. As you can see from my picture, I am kind of wrecked from playing pregnant rock star.

All in all it was a great Christmas with the family together. I didn't have to work, Haley was with us the entire day, and we only had to drive five minutes to my Aunties house.

I just wish I didn't flush my pendant...

I was in the car with my ten year old niece Alexa yesterday. She is always completely hilarious but not on purpose. In fact when she tries to be funny it's annoying.

We were following my Sister in her Van and my Sister got so far ahead of us I didn't know where we were going. Alexa says, "She is turning that way!". I'm driving so I can't see which way she is pointing from the back seat, so I say "Left or Right?"

Alexa said, "I don't know my right from my left.". I said, "Well, which hand do you write with?" She holds up her right hand and goes, "This one." Then she holds up her left hand and goes, "No this one!" Then she goes, "I don't know, give me a pencil!"

Then the other kids are saying some other stuff, and Haley blurts out "You don't even know which side of the car you are sitting in." Alexa says triupmphantly, "Yes I do, I'm sitting on this side!" Then we all started laughing and figured out my sister was turning left.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Deanna

Geeze! Everybody is pregnant these days. I can't believe 16 year old Jamie Lynn Spears is having a baby.

Who am I to judge but poor thing is in for a rough road ahead. My ex neighbors 17 year old daughter was pregnant last year. The kids boyfriend was living with them and sleeping in the kids bed with her so what do you expect?

Supposedly Jamie Lynn was living with her boyfriend too. What is up with parents today? Are they in such a rush for their kids to grow up that they don't take the time to let them be kids?

I love babies, and I'm pregnant myself but I this was planned. Plus, I'm not a teenager. I spent my teenage years running around with my friends, having fun. The only diapers I changed were for the kids I was baby sitting.

I hope everything works out for the girls and their babies.

I've been to London before, just not for work. Let me tell you this International flying ain't no joke! The hours are crazy and they keep you working the entire time.

By the time I got to London, I was shattered. I had been awake for almost 24 hours. One of the girls on the crew told me if I show my airline badge, I wouldn't have to pay for a ticket on the train.

I took a little nap and then I got on the train to Victoria's Square. When the guy came to collect my ticket I flashed my badge, Hey! He was all, "What is that?" I'm like, I work for the airline, and I was told I just had to show my badge and I could ride for free. He said, "I never heard of that." and he let me go.

At that point, I realized, I needed to show my badge at the ticket counter in the airport. OOPS!

I went to the ticket counter at Victoria's Station, and it turned out, that they never heard of it either. I noticed a sign that said I could take the Gatwick Express, and pay on the train with no extra charges. I was bummed, I was planning on riding for free.

I went to Buckingham Palace, and hung out in Hyde Park for a few hours. On my walk back to the train station, I decided to change some dollars for pounds. To exchange the money for the train ride it cost me $33 US dollars. Our dollar is even more crap compared to the last time I had been to the UK. I wish I could make pounds and spend pesos, life would be good.

Anyway, I got on the train and when the girl came to take my ticket, I told her I needed to buy one. Well, at that moment, her machine broke, and I got to ride for free. I was so happy considering if I wasn't such an airhead earlier I would have gotten my tickets for free at the airport!

I have enjoyed dancing for most of my life, you know, ballet, jazz, hip hop, whatever I can find. Lately, I have been wanting to try the fitness pole dancing. I love gymnastics and dance, I think that would nicely combine the two and give me a not so boring work out.

Fredi doesn't want me to do it because he said it would send an inappropriate message to young girls. I am not interested in it in any other way except for the fitness aspect of it. But my husband is ultra conservative, and that is one of the reasons I married him. So I will wait for the right time to persuade him over to my side.

I was in Orlando the other day, in the airport there is a tram. Inside the tram there are poles. I was in uniform, but I wanted to give it a try so I jumped on and went for a spin. But, there was a little girl who saw me do it, and she immediately grabbed a pole and started spinning. Her parents were mortified, and pulled her off the pole. She was still smiling, and I know she was thinking, "that was fun!". Which it was.

I guess I see what Fredi was talking about, with the impression a pole can make on children. I'm no Paris Hilton, that is for sure, I don't want to be! For me it was almost the same thing as jumping on a trampoline, I wish climbing a pole wasn't so taboo.

It seems with fitness pole dancing classes popping up around the country, perhaps it will change into something less provocative and more about fitness, then I will take some classes. I guess my husband wouldn't mind me taking classes in private, but he has already said no to me installing a pole in the living room. He did buy me a trampoline for the back yard though...

I am stuck in bed and feeling guilty. That's probably what got me here in the first place. I am always wanting to do more, and if I rest, I feel guilty.

Saturday I ended up in the emergency room of the hospital. I had been feeling tired for about a week. I was having these dizzy spells. I would lose my balance, and almost fall down. I just thought it was that I wasn't eating enough. I had recently lost weight, partially because I was keeping myself so busy, partially because I have gone raw vegan.

Regardless, I wouldn't allow myself to rest, I kept pushing myself to work and exercise. I always think I am so invincible. I do feel like I am you know. I am always getting stronger and feeling better. I am learning how to listen to my body. I just messed up this time.

I laid in bed shaking for hours, I couldn't get warm and I couldn't get comfortable, everything hurt. My hair hurt. I didn't have a fever, but I felt as if I did. Fredi convinced me to go to the hospital. It turns out I have a viral infection and acute bronchitis.

ME? SICK? I never got sick until I started this job. I guess all the crazy hours and being locked in a tube with sick people while I jet set around the world is taking it's toll. I can barely lift the weight that is my body, but nothing hurts. I just feel tired.

Tomorrow it's back to work, and you better believe I will be paying more attention to my body!

Wow, I have not blogged in a long time. A lot has been going on for me, most of it really good.

I got married. I know, me, of all people. Fredi and I finally did it, we got married. I am incredibly happy about it, however, don't expect me to have that white picket fence any time soon.

I put in my transfer at work, I am transferring to our international base. It's only temporary, but since the company added another destination in China, and one in Athens to our routes I decided, why not? It's only for the summer, then I will go back to my trusty old domestic flying after that.

I have also been spending a lot of time figuring out how to afford our (I can say our now that I'm married) next purchase. We are planning on buying a rental property on Oahu. I don't know how long it will take until that dream materializes, but I'm having fun planning the way to make it happen.

I have been reading a lot about business. I think I am ready to start the planning stages of getting back into business again. I won't be quitting my job, EVER. But, it will be something fun to do in my spare time.

I met this incredible woman last night on my way back from Seattle. Her name is Barbara K. She invented tools for women. She is so inspirational. She was telling me her story about how she started in this what is now a multi million-business. What I really liked about her is she didn't get into the business to make money as much as she did it to help people.

She sought after a way to help women, and the money followed. She is so sweet, beautiful and fun. She was just as excited to talk to me as I was to talk to her. She was so happy to share her enthusiasm, and give me information on how to do well in business. I actually started taking notes. I can't help it, I just can't let priceless information go without documenting it!

Barbara K is now being represented by Joe Simpson. You know, Jessica and Ashley Simpson's manager Dad. Barbara K will be the next big thing, I just know it. She is now branching out into media. I love to meet people who are successful and humble. People willing to inspire others, and don't think too highly of themselves.

That's what has been going on while I've been gone. I added a wedding picture of me and Fredi just for fun. Our wedding day, that's another story I will have to blog. There was a huge snow storm, and the wedding almost didn't happen!

Until next time.

Deanna

Well, I just got back from another four day trip, and I see that I have to go to Tampa , Florida today. I'm only home for a few hours but I still wanted to blog anyway.

Sometimes I wonder, how people can be so excellent. I really would like to know. I have been meeting people that are so wonderful. They are young, have an amazing personality and excel at everything they do.

One of my friends, he was a television host on a Mexican Television station. Everyone who meets him falls in love with his personality. He is so smart, and sweed, and kind. Then another person I met on my last trip, is a makeup artist. He works in New York City and does high fashion shows. His Mother is a concert Pianist, and his sister who, like her brother is also in her 20's she is a surgeon.

What I wonder is, what causes some people to be so good, and so successful while some others want to be such miserable losers? You know the ones I mean. The ones that don't want to work, and leech off of the government and other people. Then they complain about the hand that they were dealt in life, when they actually chose it.

Now of course we reap what we sow. But what is it that makes people so different? What is it that motivates some people to be lazy? What it is that motivates some people to want to succeed?

There are plenty of people who rose out of poverty and abuse to become successful. Just look at Oprah Winfrey. She grew up in the ghetto and was sexually abused. Now she is the richest woman in America who helps millions of others.

We all have the same opportunity. We can choose to be successful or not. We are all responsible for our own future.

Of course there are some people in this world who do not have a choice. I am not talking about them. I am talking about the people who have opportunity but choose not to take it.

I don't get it, I guess I never will, but I do find it so interesting.

Today is my one year anniversary as a flight attendant. I've had my share of ups and downs, mostly ups though.

Surprisingly, almost half of my classmates from training have already quit. I guess the living out of your suitcase and being a slave isn't for everyone.

I can never say never, but I don't think I would ever quit this job, and if I did, I am sure I would be quite sorry.

Last week we had a snowstorm and I was cursing scheduling for sending me out on a trip. I had to drive 75 miles at 1:30 in the morning, only to spin out and end up in the grass in the middle of the freeway. My dearest Fredi was kind enough to drive me to work.

I couldn't believe we were still alive when the car stopped spinning. We were so thankful that a tractor trailer didn't hit us. We dredged on and I made it to work without a scratch.

Then a few hours later I was in the Dominican Republic with the sun shining on my face, in the 80 degree weather, and the morning stress disappeared.

I am so close to no longer being a slave. I am about two months away within the company that I no longer will be the property of scheduling. I am chomping at the bit to have a normal life, well as normal as it can be for a flight attendant.

No more being at the mercy of scheduling! I can go where I want when I want, and no one will decide my geograpic location except myself. I will no longer have to wait for the phone to ring in the middle of the night for my next assignment. Scheduling also controls how much money you can make. They level you after a certain number of hours so you cannot control your paycheck.

I know that may all sound like rambling, but I am very excited to be set free. I've had a beautiful year, and I am not bitter like many others. So here I will be soon, still a flight attendant, but in control of my own schedule. This is where I have my dream sequence. I'm picturing myself on the beach back in Mexico and getting paid to snorkel. Ahh...